MLB Player News

Romano allowed one run on two hits while striking out one batter over one inning against the Cardinals on Saturday to notch a save.

Romano got the call from the bullpen in the ninth inning with the Rockies up three runs. He needed the cushion, as the veteran reliever allowed a pair of singles to give up a run. However, Romano was able to strike out Cesar Prieto to finish off the save. Though it wasn't smooth, Romano's ability to convert the save should be a sigh of relief for his fantasy managers after he blew a save opportunity in his last appearance Aug. 4 versus Tampa Bay. He appears to have a pretty firm grasp on Colorado's closer role, converting six of seven save chances since joining the big-league roster July 4.

Freeland allowed three runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out three batters over 4.1 innings in a no-decision against St. Louis on Saturday.

Freeland recorded his first career complete game in a win over Kansas City his previous time out, but his outing Saturday went in an entirely different direction. The left-hander's inefficiency resulted in his shortest start since May 26, as he needed 101 pitches to get through 4.1 frames. However, Freeland's ERA actually improved since two of the three runs against him were unearned, courtesy of a first-inning passed ball by Hunter Goodman on what would have been an inning-ending strikeout. Freeland's 6.63 season ERA is still the second worst in MLB among pitchers who have thrown at least 100 frames, though he's projected for a favorable matchup in San Francisco for his next start.

Alvarado was charged with a blown save Saturday against Toronto, giving up two runs on one hit and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. He struck out one.

With the Phillies holding a 4-2 lead in the eighth inning, Alvarado was unable to bridge the gap to the ninth frame ahead of closer Jhoan Duran on Saturday. It's been a major struggle for the left-hander as a setup man in 2026, as he's worked to a 5.77 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 56:19 K:BB with 10 holds over 43.2 innings.

Vasquez will start Sunday's game against the Astros in San Diego, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Vasquez will be making a second straight turn through the rotation after he tossed a gem his last time out Tuesday, holding Arizona scoreless over six innings while allowing just three baserunners. However, he struck out just one batter in the outing and now maintains a lowly 15 percent strikeout rate for the season. That rate places him 90th among the 94 pitches in the majors that have covered at least 100 innings this season.

Megill secured the save against the Twins on Saturday, throwing a clean ninth inning with no strikeouts.

Megill nearly retired the side on a minimal workload, needing a mere four pitches to record the game's final three outs. The hard-throwing right-hander has cemented himself as Milwaukee's closer, last blowing a save June 5 in Colorado. Through 44.1 innings, Megill sports a 2.64 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 51:11 K:BB with 21 saves in 23 attempts.

Chaparro went 2-for-2 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored during Saturday's 8-2 win over the Reds.

Chaparro pinch hit for Jose Tena in the sixth inning, and the former answered the call by smacking a two-run double to left field before coming home to score in the same frame. Chaparro added an RBI single and a run in the eighth, and it was the third time this season that he's recorded at least three RBI in a game, all of which have come since the All-Star break.

Gasser took a no-decision against the Twins on Saturday, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks in 4.2 innings. He struck out three.

Minnesota did its damage in the second inning, plating each of its three runs on the evening to leave Gasser with a poor showing overall. The southpaw is beginning to lose his control a bit of late, walking multiple batters in back-to-back outings in August after issuing a lone free pass across his four July appearances. Gasser has a 4.57 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 61:18 K:BB over 67 innings, and he lines up for a difficult matchup versus the Dodgers his next time out.

Harper went 1-for-5 with a solo home run during Saturday's 7-5 extra-innings loss to Toronto.

Harper and Trea Turner ended Max Scherzer's shutout bid in the sixth, with the Phillies smacking back-to-back solo homers off the veteran right-hander. It was Harper's fifth long ball since the All-Star break and brought him up to 25 home runs on the year. He has an .869 OPS with six steals and 71 RBI across 499 plate appearances this season.

Turner went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional run scored during the Phillies' 7-5 extra-innings loss to the Blue Jays on Saturday.

Max Scherzer kept the Phillies off the board through five innings, but Turner changed the momentum in the sixth with a solo long ball off the veteran right-hander. It was the 17th home run of the season for Turner, seven of which have come since the All-Star break. The veteran shortstop has a .703 OPS with 17 steals (in 20 attempts), 47 RBI and 38 extra-base hits over 510 plate appearances this season.

Ortiz is getting an MRI on his neck after being removed early from Saturday's game against Minnesota, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinelreports.

Ortiz felt tightness in his neck during his first at-bat, leading to his removal later in the game. The 28-year-old will receive an MRI to assess the extent of the damage. Manager Pat Murphy said the injury is located in his lower neck, closer to his scapula.